The Yellow Globe

Summary

Alexander W. Drake (1843-1916) was a successful American wood engraver and art collector and director of the art department for Scribner’s and Century magazines. His weird tales were collected and published by his friends in 1916 to commemorate his death.

'The Yellow Globe' (1893) tells the story of a man who notices another gentleman staring at a phosphorous yellow globe in a druggist’s window on numerous occasions. He is curious as to why he’s so fascinated by the globe and eventually follows him and strikes up conversation.

The obsessive watcher turns out to be a painter who studies light and shadow. The painter invites the stranger to visit his studio to show him why that globe is so significant. What he reveals in the studio is mind-boggling and uncanny....